Western South Dakota News

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) criticized Senate Democrats for their handling of the impeachment case against U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, citing their failure to address the ongoing border crisis. Thune highlighted the alarming statistics related to illegal immigration at the southern border and expressed concern over the national security implications.

Thune emphasized the severity of the situation by stating, "7,633,650. That’s the number of migrant encounters at our southern border since President Biden took office." He further underscored the national security threat posed by the influx of illegal immigrants, especially the issue of known individuals evading apprehension.

Quoting U.S. Border Patrol chief Jason Owens, Thune reiterated the concerns regarding border security, stating, "'That is a national security threat.' Border security is a big piece of national security." Thune also pointed out the significant increase in encounters with individuals on the terrorist watchlist attempting to cross the border.

The senator criticized President Biden's approach to border security, accusing him of neglecting the issue since taking office. Thune expressed disappointment in the Democrats' decision to swiftly dismiss the impeachment charges against Secretary Mayorkas without a thorough examination of the evidence collected.

Thune concluded by highlighting the continuous rise in illegal immigration under the Biden administration's watch and emphasized the need for accountability in addressing the border crisis.